Communication between responders

ABSTRACT

A method for communicating among responders from a plurality of responder agencies includes determining that responders from two responder agencies are located at an event or location. Each of the responders from the two responder agencies has a computing device that is configured to communicate with the other computing device of the responders. Authorization is received from the two responder agencies to permit direct communication between responders from the two responder agencies. A communication link is established between the computing devices of the responders of the two responder agencies in response to determining that the responders from the two responder agencies are located at the event or location and in response to receiving the authorization. The communication link permits direct communication between the responders of the two responder agencies.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, a method for communicating among responders from aplurality of responder agencies includes determining that a firstplurality of responders from a first responder agency are located at anevent or location and determining that a second plurality of respondersfrom a second responder agency are located at the event or location.Each of the first plurality of responders has a computing device and thecomputing devices of the first plurality of responders are configured tocommunicate with each other. Each of the second plurality of respondershas a computing device and the computing devices of the second pluralityof responders are configured to communicate with each other. The methodfurther includes receiving authorization from the first and secondresponder agencies to permit direct communication between respondersfrom the first and second responder agencies and, in response todetermining that the first plurality of responders and the secondplurality of responders are located at the event or location and inresponse to receiving the authorization, establishing a communicationlink between the computing devices of the first plurality of respondersand the computing devices of the second plurality of responders. Thecommunication link permits direct communication between the firstplurality of responders and the second plurality of responders.

In one example, the method further includes defining an administrativeresponder from one of the first plurality of responders and the secondplurality of responders, where the computing devices of the firstplurality of responders and the computing devices of the secondplurality of responders are configured to give priority tocommunications from a computing device of the administrative responder.In another example, the method further includes reducing, by one of thecomputing devices of the first plurality of responders and the computingdevices of the second plurality of responders, a resolution of a messageprior to sending the message via the communication link. In anotherexample, the message is a video stream.

In another example, the method further includes deploying one or morecommunication relay devices at the event or location, where the one ormore communication relay devices are configured to relay communicationssent via the communication link. In another example, the one or morecommunication relay devices are further configured to send a copy of thecommunications to a remote computing device.

In another example, the method further includes receiving informationabout a particular locale at the event or location from a firstresponder of the first plurality of responders and the second pluralityof responders, determining that a computing device of a second responderof the first plurality of responders and the second plurality ofresponders is at the particular locale, and sending the informationabout the particular locale to the computing device of a secondresponder. In another example, the method further includes receiving asignal from a first responder of the first plurality of responders andthe second plurality of responders where the signal indicates that acomputing device of the first responder is at a particular locale,determining that a computing device of a second responder of the firstplurality of responders and the second plurality of responders is at theparticular locale, and sending, to the computing device of the secondresponder, an indication of the signal received from the firstresponder.

In another embodiment, a method of communicating among a plurality ofresponders includes defining a subset of the plurality of respondersassociated with a first responder where each of the first responder andthe responders in the subset has a computing device, establishing acommunication link between the computing devices of the first responderand the plurality of responders in the subset, establishing a priorityrank among the first responder and the responders in the subset, andsending communications between computing devices the first responder andthe responders in the subset based on the priority rank.

In one example, the communications between the first responder and theresponders in the subset comprise push-to-talk audio communications. Inanother example, the computing devices of the plurality of responders inthe subset are configured to determine a conflict between push-to-talkaudio communications sent by at least two responders and to play one ofpush-to-talk audio communications based on the priority rank of the atleast two responders. In another example, the communications between thefirst responder and the responders in the subset comprise at least onevideo clip. In another example, the subset of the plurality ofresponders comprises a second responder that is a supervisor of thefirst responder. In another example, the computing device of the firstresponder is configured to send an alert to the second responder via thecommunication link in response to an event at the location of the firstresponder.

In another example, defining the subset of the plurality of respondersassociated with the first responder comprises receiving an indication ofthe subset from the first responder. In another example, the methodfurther includes requesting confirmation to add a superior of the firstresponder to the communication link in response to determining that theindication from the first responder includes the superior of the firstresponder. In another example, the indication of the subset from thefirst responder comprises an indication of responders within ageographic boundary defined by the first responder. In another example,the subset of the plurality of responders is defined based on one ormore of locations of the computing devices the plurality of respondersin the subset or the priority rank of the plurality of responders in thesubset.

In another example, the method further includes receiving, by thecomputing device of the first responder, a message sent from thecomputing device of a second responder of the responders in the subsetvia the communication link to the computing devices of the responder andthe other responders in the subset, receiving, by the computing deviceof the first responder, a request to send a response to the secondresponder, and sending the response via the communication link from thecomputing device of the first responder to the computing device of thesecond responder. In another example, the method further includessending an indication of the particular locale from the computing deviceof the first responder to a remote computing device in response todetermining that the computing device is at a particular locale andreceiving, by the computing device of the first responder from theremote computing device, information about the particular localegenerated by a second responder.

In another embodiment, a system for communicating among a plurality ofresponders, the system includes a computing device associated with afirst responder and instructions stored in the computing device. Theinstructions, in response to execution by the computing device, causethe computing device to define a subset of the plurality of responderswhere each of the responders in the subset has a computing device,establish a communication link between the computing devices of thefirst responder and the plurality of responders in the subset, and sendcommunications to the computing devices of the responders in the subsetbased on a priority rank among the first responder and the responders inthe subset.

In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium has instructionsthereon for communicating among a plurality of responders. Theinstructions, in response to execution by a computing device of a firstresponder, cause the computing device to define a subset of theplurality of responders where each of the responders in the subset has acomputing device, establish a communication link between the computingdevices of the first responder and the plurality of responders in thesubset, and send communications to the computing devices of theresponders in the subset based on a priority rank among the firstresponder and the responders in the subset.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system for communication betweencomputing devices of responders via a network, in accordance with theembodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of capabilities of a computing devicedepicted in FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of computing devicesdisclosed herein;

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of establishing a communication linkbetween responders from different agencies at a particular location, inaccordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of establishing a communication linkbetween responders from different agencies at a particular event, inaccordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of establishing a communication linkbetween responders from different agencies at another event, inaccordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of establishing a communication linkbetween responders from different agencies at another location, inaccordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of location-based metadata tagging ofinformation, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of distributing information withlocation-based metadata tags, in accordance with the embodimentsdisclosed herein;

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of a method of communicating amongresponders from a plurality of responder agencies, in accordance withthe embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of a method of communicating among aplurality of responders, in accordance with the embodiments disclosedherein;

FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of selecting a subset based on anindication of the subset from a responder, in accordance with theembodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of selecting a subset based on locationsof responder computing devices and/or a priority rank of responders, inaccordance with the embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 13 depicts a block diagram that illustrates aspects of anillustrative computing device appropriate for use in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed totechniques and tools for establishing communication between respondersby establishing a communication link between computing devices of theresponders. For example, in one or more embodiments, a communicationlink is established between computing devices of a first plurality ofresponders from a first responder agency and computing devices of asecond plurality of responders from a second responder agency. In oneembodiment, prior to establishing the communication link, adetermination is made that the first plurality of responders and thesecond plurality of responders are at an event or location. In anotherembodiment, prior to establishing the communication link, authorizationis received from the first and second responder agencies to permitdirect communication between responders from the first and secondresponder agencies.

A responder is any individual that is part of an agency that responds toparticular situations. Examples of responders include law enforcementofficials, firefighting officials, paramedics, private securitypersonnel, private responders (e.g., tow truck drivers and roadsideassistance personnel), and the like. Law enforcement officials includepolice officers, sheriffs and sheriff deputies, state patrol officers,federal agency officers (e.g., Federal Bureau of Investigation agents,Central Intelligence Agency agents, Transportation SecurityAdministration officers, etc.), members of the National Guard, membersof the armed forces, and the like. Examples of responders also includesupervisors (e.g., police sergeants) and dispatchers of otherresponders. Examples of responder agencies include police departments,sheriff offices, fire departments, federal agencies, private companiesof private security personnel and private responders, and the like.

In another example, in one or more embodiments, a subset of a pluralityof responders associated with a first responder is defined, acommunication link between the computing devices of the first responderand the plurality of responders in the subset is established, a priorityrank among the first responder and the responders in the subset isestablished, and communications between computing devices the firstresponder and the responders are sent via the communication link subsetbased on the priority rank.

In some embodiments, communication links between responders, whetherbetween responders of the same or different agencies, allow a variety ofcommunications between responders. In some examples, communicationsinclude one or more of live audio, recorded audio, live video, recordedvideo, text (e.g., text messages, text alerts, documents, etc.), or anyother type of communication. The ability to effectively establishcommunication links with desired sets of responders greatly increasesthe flow of information to proper responders for a given situation.

Legacy communication systems allow responders to communicate. Forexample, many law enforcement departments use radios to communicate liveaudio between law enforcement officers (e.g., officers on duty, theirsupervisors, dispatchers, etc.). However, legacy communication systemshave many downfalls. For example, radio communication systems typicallyallow for only one user to transmit information at one time; competingtransmissions generally are not heard or cancel each other out. Inanother example, radio communication systems do not give priority to anyone user over another user. In yet another example, responders indifferent responder agencies typically use different radio frequenciesand/or channels such that adjusting responder radio systems to allowresponders from different agencies to communication with each othertime-consuming and complex. In yet another example, radio communicationsystems typically do not permit communication of non-audio information(e.g., video).

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of illustrative embodiments ofthe present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art,however, that many embodiments of the present disclosure may bepracticed without some or all of the specific details. In someinstances, well-known process steps have not been described in detail inorder not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that embodiments of thepresent disclosure may employ any combination of features describedherein. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise formsdisclosed.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system 100 for communication betweencomputing devices of responders via a network 102. The system includes aresponder 110 that has a computing device 112 that is capable ofcommunicating via the network 102. In some embodiments, the network 102is a wireless communication network using one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, WiMAX,Bluetooth, and the like. In the depicted embodiment, the computingdevice 112 includes a communication application 114 that includesinstructions that cause the computing device 112 to establish acommunication link between computing devices of other responders via thenetwork 102. In some embodiments, the communication links describedherein are peer-to-peer communication links. In other embodiments, thecommunication links described herein are server-mediated communicationlinks. In other embodiments, the communication links described hereinuse one or more protocols, such as the internet protocol, mobiletelephony protocols, push-to-talk over cellular protocols, and the like.

The system 100 also includes responders 120, 130, 140, and 150. Each ofthe responders 120, 130, 140, and 150 has one of computing devices 122,132, 142, and 152 that are capable of communicating via the network 102.Each of the computing devices 122, 132, 142, and 152 includes one of thecommunication applications 124, 134, 144, 154 that includes instructionsthat cause the computing devices 122, 132, 142, and 152 to establish acommunication link between computing devices of other responders via thenetwork 102.

In the depicted embodiment, the system 100 also includes a responder 160and a responder 170 located at a remote location 180. Each of theresponder 160 and the responder 170 is located in a remote location 180,such as a responder agency office, dispatch unit, and the like. Theresponder 160 has a computing device 162 and the responder 170 has acomputing device 172. Each of the computing devices 162 and 172 iscapable of communicating via the network 102. Each of the computingdevices 162 and 172 includes a communication application that includesinstructions that cause the computing devices 162 and 172 to establish acommunication link between computing devices of other responders via thenetwork 102. In one embodiment, the responder 160 is a dispatcher of oneor more of the responders 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150. In anotherembodiment, the responder 170 is a supervisor of one or more of theresponders 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150.

In some embodiments, each of the computing devices 112, 122, 132, 142,152, 162, and 172 includes one or more of a cell phone, tablet computer,smart wearable (e.g., a smart watch), a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, and the like. In one example, the computing devices 112, 122,132, 142, and 152 are personal of the responders 110, 120, 130, 140, and150 and are not issued by any responder agency of the responders 110,120, 130, 140, and 150. In that case, the communication applications114, 124, 134, 144, and 154 are configured to enable communicationbetween the personal computing devices 112, 122, 132, 142, and 152 ofthe responders 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 with each other and withcomputing devices of one or more responder agencies, such as computingdevices 162 and 172.

In another example, when communicating via the network 102, thecomputing devices 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, and 172 are capable ofsending communications directly to another of the computing devices 112,122, 132, 142, 152, 162, and 172 (i.e., direct communication), to asubset of the computing devices 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, and 172(i.e., selective communication), or to all of the computing devices 112,122, 132, 142, 152, 162, and 172 (i.e., broadcast communication). Insome embodiments, as discussed in greater detail below, communicationsare sent between one or more of the computing devices 112, 122, 132,142, 152, 162, and 172 via a communication link based on a priority rankamong at least two of the responders 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, and170.

In some embodiments, the responders 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, and170 are all associated with the same responder agency. Examples ofresponders from the same responder agency include police officers fromthe same police department, firefighters from the same fire department,private security personnel from the same organization, and the like. Inother embodiments, at least some of the responders 110, 120, 130, 140,150, 160, and 170 are associated with different responder agencies.Examples of responders from different responder agencies include policeofficers from one police department and police officers from anotherpolice department, state patrol officers and sheriffs deputies, federalagency agents and members of the armed forces, and the like. Asdescribed in greater detail below, when responders at least some of theresponders 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, and 170 are from differentagencies, some embodiments of communication applications on thecomputing devices 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, and 172 enable theresponders 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, and 170 from different agenciesto establish a communication link to communicate with each other.

An embodiment of the capabilities of the computing device 112 isdepicted in FIG. 2. As described above, the computing device 112includes the communications application 114 and is capable ofcommunicating via the network 102. The computing device 112 is alsocapable of communicating with any number of responder devices 116 a-n.Examples of the responder devices 116 a-n include devices worn orcarried by the responder 110, such as an on-body camera, a stun device,a firearm holster, an on-body microphone, a radio, and the like. Otherexamples of the responder devices 116 a-n include devices associatedwith a vehicle of the responder 110, such as a light bar, a dashboardcamera, a microphone, an in-vehicle sensor, and the like. The responderdevices 116 a-n can include any other device associated with theresponder 110.

In some embodiments, the communications application 114 includesinstructions that, when executed, cause the computing device 112 to sendcommunications via the network 102 to computing devices of otherresponders. In some embodiments, the communications include informationprovided at least one of the responder devices 116 a-n. In someexamples, the communication can include video from an on-body camera,audio from an on-body microphone, and the like. In some embodiments, thecommunication can include information indicative of a status change ofthe responder devices 116 a-n. In some examples, the communicationincludes an indication that a light bar of a vehicle has been activated,an indication that a holster has been unlocked to allow removal of afirearm, and the like. In other embodiments, the communication caninclude information from the computing device 112. In some examples, thecommunication includes audio captured by a microphone of the computingdevice 112, text entered into the computing device 112, and the like.

In another embodiment, the communications application 114 includesinstructions that, when executed, cause the computing device 112 toprocess information prior to sending it via the network 102. In oneexample, the communications application 114 causes the computing device112 to reduce a resolution of the information (e.g., pictures, recordedvideo, video streams, etc.) prior to sending the information via thenetwork 102. In another example, the communications application 114causes the computing device 112 to tag the information with metadata(e.g., a time of capture of the information, a location of capture ofthe information, etc.) prior to sending the information via the network102. In another example, the communications application 114 causes thecomputing device 112 to compile multiple forms of information (e.g.,text and images) into a single transmission via the network 102.

The depiction in FIG. 2 includes an embodiment of the computing device112. However, this embodiment is not limited only to computing device112. Any of the other computing devices described herein, such ascomputing devices 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, and 172, may have similarcapabilities to communicate via the network 102 and to communicate withresponder devices associated with the computing devices.

An embodiment of establishing a communication link between respondersfrom different agencies at a particular location is depicted in FIG. 3.Depicted in FIG. 3 is a representation of a map 200. The map 200includes an indication of an incident 202. In one example, the incident202 is one or more of a vehicle collision, a crime, an investigation,and the like. The map 200 also includes indications of responders 204a-d and indications of responders 206 a-d. In one example, theresponders 204 a-d are from a first responder agency (e.g., a policedepartment), and the responders 206 a-d are from a second responderagency (e.g., a fire department).

Each of the responders 204 a-d has a computing device (e.g., computingdevice 112) and the computing devices of the responders 204 a-d areconfigured to communicate with each other. Each of the responders 206a-d has a computing device (e.g., computing device 112) and thecomputing devices of the responders 206 a-d are configured tocommunicate with each other. In some embodiments, the computing devicesof the responders 204 a-d and the computing devices of the responders206 a-d are configured to send indications of their locations to one ormore remote computing device. In one example, the computing devices ofthe responders 204 a-d send indications of their locations to a remotecomputing device of the first responder agency and the computing devicesof the responders 206 a-d send indications of their locations to aremote computing device of the second responder agency.

In some embodiments, determinations are made as to which of theresponders 204 a-d and which of the responders 206 a-d are at a locationof the incident 202. In the particular embodiment depicted in FIG. 3,the location of the incident 202 is defined by an area 208 having aradius from the incident 202. Thus, a determination is made thatresponders 204 a-b are at the location of the incident 202 (i.e., withinthe area 208) and a determination is made that the responders 206 a-bare at the location of the incident 202.

In some embodiments, authorization is received from the first and secondresponder agencies to permit direct communication between respondersfrom the first and second responder agencies. In one example, theauthorization is particular to the particular incident 202, such asspecific authorization to permit responders 204 a-b and responders 206a-b to communicate directly when responding to the particular incident202. In another example, the authorization is a blanket authorizationfor responders from the first responder agency and responders from thesecond responder agency to communicate directly when in the location ofany event or location. In other examples, authorization can take anynumber of forms or have any number of conditions.

In another embodiment, in response to the determinations that responders204 a-b and responders 206 a-b are at the location of the incident 202and in response to receiving authorization from the first and secondresponder agencies, a communication link is established between theresponders 204 a-b and responders 206 a-b. In one example, establishingthe communication link includes permitting communication applications onthe computing devices of the responders 204 a-b and responders 206 a-bto send and receive information to and from the other computing devicesof the responders 204 a-b and responders 206 a-b. In one example, thecommunication applications on the computing devices of the responders204 a-b and responders 206 a-b include a push-to-talk feature thatmimics a radio device where pressing a button or icon on a computingdevice allows one of the responders 204 a-b and 206 a-b to send liveaudio to each of the computing devices of the others of responders 204a-b and 206 a-b. In another embodiment, the communication applicationson the computing devices of the responders 204 a-b and responders 206a-b stream live video to each of the computing devices of the others ofresponders 204 a-b and 206 a-b.

Push-to-talk audio communications are initiated by activating atransmission on a computing device of a live audio stream from thecomputing device. In some embodiments, activating the transmission isdone by pressing a button (e.g., a physical button or a button displayedon a touchscreen device) and the transmission of live audio streamoccurs while the button is pushed. In some embodiments, push-to-talkaudio communications are broadcast from the computing device to all ofthe responders on the communication link or in a subset of thecommunication link. In other embodiments, push-to-talk audiocommunications are sent directly to a single recipient computing device.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the responders 204 a-b and theresponders 206 a-b are enabled to communicate with each other withoutthe need to reconfigure existing communication systems. For example, theresponders 204 a-b and the responders 206 a-b do not need to reconfigureradio frequencies and/or channels to be able to communicate. It alsoleaves the radio frequencies open for other communications unrelated tothe incident 202.

An embodiment of establishing a communication link between respondersfrom different agencies at a particular event is depicted in FIG. 4.Depicted in FIG. 4 is a representation of a map 210. The map 210includes an indication of a portion of a parade route 212. The map 210also includes indications of responders 214 a-f and indications ofresponders 216 a-g. In one example, the responders 214 a-f are from afirst responder agency (e.g., a police department), and the responders216 a-g are from a second responder agency (e.g., a sheriffs office).Each of the responders 214 a-f has a computing device (e.g., computingdevice 112) and the computing devices of the responders 214 a-f areconfigured to communicate with each other. Each of the responders 216a-g has a computing device (e.g., computing device 112) and thecomputing devices of the responders 216 a-g are configured tocommunicate with each other.

In some embodiments, determinations are made as to which of theresponders 214 a-f and which of the responders 216 a-g are at a locationof the event. In the particular embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, thelocation of the event is defined by an area 218 that is within a certaindistance from the parade route 212. Thus, a determination is made thatresponders 214 a-d are at the location of the event (i.e., within thearea 218) and a determination is made that the responders 216 a-f are atthe location of the event. In some embodiments, as described above,authorization is received from the responder agencies of responders 214a-d and responders 216 a-f to permit direct communication betweenresponders from the responder agencies. In another embodiment, inresponse to the determinations that responders 214 a-d and responders216 a-f are at the location of the event and in response to receivingauthorization from the responder agencies, a communication link isestablished between the responders 214 a-d and the responders 216 a-f.

In other embodiments, one or more communication relay devices are usedto improve the communication link between the responders 214 a-d and theresponders 216 a-f. In the depicted embodiment, communication relaydevices 220 a-b are set up near the parade route 212. The communicationrelay devices 220 a-b are configured to relay communications sent viathe communication link. In one example, the communication relay devices220 a-b are temporary cell phone towers that form part of a network(e.g., network 102) that relays cellular telephone communication betweenthe computing devices of the responders 214 a-d and the responders 216a-f. In another example, the communication relay devices 220 a-b aretemporary WiFi towers that form part of a network (e.g., network 102)that relays WiFi communication between the computing devices of theresponders 214 a-d and the responders 216 a-f. In one example, thecommunication relay devices 220 a-b are configured to relaycommunications only between the responders 214 a-d and the responders216 a-f. In this way, even if public communication relay devices areoperating at or beyond bandwidth, the responders 214 a-d and theresponders 216 a-f will still be able to communicate with each other. Inanother embodiment, the communication relay devices 220 a-b areconfigured to send a copy of communications to a remote computing device(e.g., a server of a responder agency) to store a copy of thecommunications. Such copies of communications stored on remote computingdevices may be useful for evidentiary or other purposes.

In another embodiment, the computing devices of the responders 214 a-dand the responders 216 a-f send signals to a remoter computing device(e.g., a server of a responder agency) indicative of an event at aparticular locale. For example, the computing device of the responder214 a may receive a signal from a stun device indicating that theresponder 214 a used the stun device at the intersection where theresponder 214 a is located in FIG. 4. The computing device of theresponder 214 a sends an indication of the stun device use to the remotecomputing device. The remote computing device determines that theresponder 214 b is located is at the locale of the responder 214 a(i.e., within a particular distance of the responder 214 a). The remotecomputing device sends, to the computing device of the responder 214 b,an indication of the signal that the responder 214 a used a stun devicealong with the location of the responder 214 a. In this way, theresponder 214 b is automatically alerted to the use of the stun deviceby the responder 214 a without the responder 214 a having to send anymessages by way of radio or computing device.

An embodiment of establishing a communication link between respondersfrom different agencies at another event is depicted in FIG. 5. Depictedin FIG. 5 is a representation of a map 230. The map 230 includes anindication of a portion of a baseball field 232. The map 230 alsoincludes indications of responders 236 a-f, indications of responders238 a-f, and indications of responders 240 a-h. In one example, theresponders 236 a-f are from a first responder agency (e.g., a policedepartment), the responders 238 a-f are from a second responder agency(e.g., a sheriffs office), and the responders 240 a-h are from a thirdresponder agency (e.g., a security department of the baseball field232). Each of the responders 236 a-f has a computing device (e.g.,computing device 112) and the computing devices of the responders 236a-f are configured to communicate with each other. Each of theresponders 238 a-f has a computing device (e.g., computing device 112)and the computing devices of the responders 238 a-f are configured tocommunicate with each other. Each of the responders 240 a-h has acomputing device (e.g., computing device 112) and the computing devicesof the responders 240 a-h are configured to communicate with each other.

In some embodiments, determinations are made as to which of theresponders 236 a-f, which of the responders 238 a-f, and which of theresponders 240 a-h are at a location of the event. In the particularembodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the location of the event is defined byan area 234 that is within a certain distance from the baseball field232. Thus, a determination is made that responders 236 a-d are at thelocation of the event (i.e., within the area 234), a determination ismade that responders 238 a-d are at the location of the event, and adetermination is made that the responders 240 a-h are at the location ofthe event. In some embodiments, as described above, authorization isreceived from the responder agencies of responders 236 a-d, responders238 a-d, and responders 240 a-h to permit direct communication betweenresponders from the responder agencies. In another embodiment, inresponse to the determinations that responders 236 a-d, responders 238a-d, and responders 240 a-h are at the location of the event and inresponse to receiving authorization from the responder agencies, acommunication link is established between the responders 236 a-d,responders 238 a-d, and responders 240 a-h.

As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 5, in certain embodiments, acommunication link is established between both public responders (e.g.,police officers) and private responders (e.g., private securitypersonnel). This ability to establish communication link between publicand private responders allows for better coordination when both publicand private responders are involved at a location or event withouthaving to adjust normal public responder communication channels toaccommodate private responders. In one embodiment, one of the responders236 a-d, responders 238 a-d, and responders 240 a-h in the area 234 isdefined as an administrative responder. In this embodiment, computingdevices of the others of the responders 236 a-d, responders 238 a-d, andresponders 240 a-h are configured to give priority to communicationsfrom the computing device of the administrative responder. For example,the computing devices of the responders 236 a-d, responders 238 a-d, andresponders 240 a-h are configured to interrupt communications to or fromresponders other than the administrative responder when a communicationis received from the computing devices of the administrative responder.In this way, the administrative responder is able to send messages thatwill be delivered to all of the other responders regardless of any othercommunications that are going on between the other responders.

An embodiment of establishing a communication link between respondersfrom different agencies at another location is depicted in FIG. 6.Depicted in FIG. 6 is a representation of a map 250. The map 250includes an indication of an incident in the form of a car collision 252on a freeway 254. The map 250 also includes indications of responders258 a-b, indications of responders 260 a-c, and an indication of aresponders 262. In one example, the responders 258 a-b are from a firstresponder agency (e.g., highway patrol), the responders 260 a-c are froma second responder agency (e.g., a fire department), and the responder262 is from a third responder agency (e.g., a tow truck company). Eachof the responders 258 a-b has a computing device (e.g., computing device112) and the computing devices of the responders 258 a-b are configuredto communicate with each other. Each of the responders 260 a-c has acomputing device (e.g., computing device 112) and the computing devicesof the responders 260 a-c are configured to communicate with each other.The responder 262 has a computing device (e.g., computing device 112).

In some embodiments, determinations are made as to which of theresponders 258 a-b, which of the responders 260 a-c, and that theresponder 262 is at a location of the event. In the particularembodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the location of the car collision 252 isdefined by an area 256. The area 256 is an irregular shape that includesportions of the freeway 254 and other areas of the map 250 within aparticular distance of the car collision 252. Thus, a determination ismade that responders 258 a-b are at the location of the car collision252 (i.e., within the area 256), a determination is made that responders260 a-c are at the location of the car collision 252, and adetermination is made that the responders 240 a-h are at the location ofthe car collision 252. In some embodiments, as described above,authorization is received from the responder agencies of responders 258a-b, responders 260 a-c, and the responder 262 to permit directcommunication between responders from the responder agencies. In anotherembodiment, in response to the determinations that the responders 258a-b, the responders 260 a-c, and the responder 262 are at the locationof the car collision 252 and in response to receiving authorization fromthe responder agencies, a communication link is established between theresponders 258 a-b, the responders 260 a-c, and the responder 262.

As shown in FIG. 6, in some embodiments, not all of the respondersdeemed to be at the location or event is immediately able to help. Forexample, responders 260 b and 260 c are not on the freeway 254 andimmediately able to help at the car collision 252. However, theresponders 258 b, 260 b and 260 c receive communication via theestablished communication link and can determine whether they shouldmove onto the freeway 254 to assist at the car collision 252. Inaddition, the communication link can be used to request that theresponders 258 b, 260 b and 260 c move onto the freeway 254 to assist atthe car collision 252.

An embodiment of location-based metadata tagging of information isdepicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. A map 270 is depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. InFIG. 7 a first responder 272 is at a particular locale 274. The locale274 can be defined in many ways, such as an intersection of two streets,an address, a set of global coordinates, and the like. In the particularembodiment shown, the locale 274 is the intersection of two streets. Themap 270 also includes indications of locations of a first responder 272and a second responder 272. Each of the first responder 272 and thesecond responder 274 has a computing device (e.g., computing device112).

At the point depicted in FIG. 7, the first responder 272 sends acommunication 278 using the computing device from the locale 274 to aremote computing device 280. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG.7, the remote computing device 280 is located at an agency office 282and used by a user 284. In some embodiments, the user 284 is adispatcher or a supervisor of the first responder 272. In otherembodiments, the remote computing device 280 can be automated andoperate even without the user 284 (e.g., when the remote computingdevice 280 is a server).

In one embodiment, the communication 278 sent by the first responder 272from the locale 274 to the remote computer 280 includes informationobtained at the locale 274. In some examples, the information is one ormore of audio received by a microphone, video or an image taken by acamera, text entered into the computing device, and the like. Metadataassociated with the information is tagged with an indication of thelocale 274. The metadata can be tagged by the computing device beforethe communication 278 is sent or by the remote computing device 280after the communication 278 is sent. The remote computing device 280 isconfigured to store the information with the location-based metadatatag.

At the point depicted in FIG. 8, the first responder 272 has left thelocale 274 and the second responder 276 has arrived at the locale 274.In one embodiment, the remote computing device 280 determines that thesecond responder 276 is at the locale 274. In response to determiningthat the second responder 276 is at the locale 274, the remote computingdevice 280 sends a communication 286 to the computing device of thesecond responder 276. The communication 286 includes the informationwith the location-based metadata tag. In this way, information pertinentto the particular locale 274 is shared between the first responder 272and the second responder 276, even if the first responder 272 and thesecond responder 276 are not aware of each other's activities. In oneembodiment, the first responder 272 and the second responder 276 arefrom different responder agencies.

An embodiment of a method 300 of communicating among responders from aplurality of responder agencies is depicted in FIG. 9. At block 302, adetermination is made that a first plurality of responders from a firstresponder agency are located at an event or location. In one example,each of the first plurality of responders has a computing device and thecomputing devices of the first plurality of responders are configured tocommunicate with each other. At block 304, a determination is made thata second plurality of responders from a second responder agency arelocated at the event or location. In one example, each of the secondplurality of responders has a computing device and the computing devicesof the second plurality of responders are configured to communicate witheach other.

At block 306, authorization is received from the first and secondresponder agencies to permit direct communication between respondersfrom the first and second responder agencies. At block 308, acommunication link is established between the computing devices of thefirst plurality of responders and the computing devices of the secondplurality of responders. The communication link permits directcommunication between the first plurality of responders and the secondplurality of responders. In one example, the communication link isestablished in response to determining that the first plurality ofresponders and the second plurality of responders are located at theevent or location and in response to receiving the authorization.

An embodiment of a method 320 of communicating among a plurality ofresponders is depicted in FIG. 10. At block 322, a subset of a pluralityof responders is defined where the responders are associated with afirst responder. In one example, the responders are from the sameresponder agency as the first responder. In another example, theresponders are at a location or event at which the first responder islocated. In another example, the subset is defined by the firstresponder providing an indication of the subset (e.g., indicatingparticular responders in the subset, selecting a geographic area on amap where the responders in the subset are in the geographic area,etc.). At block 324, a communication link is established between thecomputing devices of the first responder and the plurality of respondersin the subset.

At block 326, a priority rank among the first responder and theresponders in the subset is established. At block 328, communicationsbetween computing devices of the first responder and the responders aresent via the communication link subset based on the priority rank. Inone example, the priority rank reflects a hierarchy of the firstresponder and the responders in the subset within a responder agency. Inanother example, the subset includes a responder, the responder'spartner, the responder's supervisor, and a dispatcher, and the priorityrank give priority to communications from the dispatcher, theresponder's supervisor, and the responder's partner, in that order. Inanother example, the communications are push-to-talk communications andthe computing devices of the responders are configured to determine aconflict between push-to-talk audio communications sent by tworesponders and to play one of the push-to-talk audio communicationsbased on the priority rank of the two responders. In another example,the priority rank determines an importance of messages sent via thecommunication link. In another example, the computing devices of thefirst responder and the responders in the subset are configured todisplay or sound the communications based on the priority rank.

An embodiment of selecting a subset based on an indication of the subsetfrom a responder is depicted in FIG. 11. In the depicted embodiment, acomputing device 400 with a touchscreen display 402. A map 404 isdisplayed by the touchscreen display 402. In this example, a responderinput in the form of a geographic boundary 406 is drawn on thetouchscreen display 402 over the map 404. The map 404 optionallyincludes indications of responders 408 a-f located in the area of themap. In one example, the locations of the responders 408 a-f aredetermined based on locations of computing devices of the responders 408a-f. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the responders 408 a-d locatedwith the geographic boundary 406 drawn on the map 404 are included inthe subset. In one embodiment, when a responder input indicates that asuperior of the responder is to be included in the subset, the computingdevice requests confirmation to add the superior of the responder. Forexample, if a police officer indicates that the chief of police is to beadded to the subset, the computing device asks the police officer forconfirmation that the chief of police should be included in the subset.

An embodiment of selecting a subset based on locations of respondercomputing devices and/or a priority rank of responders is depicted inFIG. 12. In the depicted embodiment, a map 410 indicates locations of aresponder 412 and other responders 414 a-e. In one embodiment, thesubset of responders includes those of the responders 414 a-e that arelocated with a particular distance from the responder 412. For example,FIG. 12 indicates an area 416 within a particular radius of theresponder 412, the responders 414 a-c are located with the area, and theresponders 414 a-c are included in the subset. In another embodiment,the subset of responders is selected based on a priority rank ofresponders. FIG. 4 also depicts a remote location 418 (e.g., a policestation) with a responder 420 and a computing device 422 of theresponder 420. In one example, the responder 420 is a supervisor of theresponder 412. In this case, the subset includes the responder 420because the responder 420 is the supervisor of the responder 412.

Combining the two embodiments depicted in FIG. 4, a subset is selectedbased on the location of responders and the priority rank to include theresponder 412, the responders 414 a-c, and the responder 420 in a subsetof responders. A communication link is established between the computingdevices of the responder 412, the responders 414 a-c, and the responder420. Communications are sent via the communication link based on apriority rank of the responder 412, the responders 414 a-c, and theresponder 420. In one example, the computing devices of the responder412 and the responders 414 a-c are configured to give priority todisplaying and/or sounding communications from the computing device 422of the responder 420.

In another embodiment, the communications links described herein arecapable of being used to send both broadcast communications and directcommunications. Using the example from FIG. 12 where the responder 412,the responders 414 a-c, and the responder 420 are in the subset,broadcast communications sent by one responder of the subset are sent tothe computing devices of the other responders in the subset. Forexample, responder 414 a sends a broadcast message that is received bythe computing devices of the responder 412, the responders 414 b-c, andthe responder 420. In one example, the responder 412 may want to respondto the broadcast message of the responder 414 a but not send theresponse to all of the responders in the subset. In the example, thecomputing device of the responder 412 permits the responder 412 toselect that a direct communication be sent back to the responder 414 a.The direct communication is sent from the computing device of theresponder 412 to the computing device of the responder 414 a, but is notsent to the computing devices of the responders 414 b-c and theresponder 420.

Unless otherwise specified in the context of specific examples,described techniques and tools may be implemented by any suitablecomputing device or set of computing devices.

In any of the described examples, a data store contains data asdescribed herein and may be hosted, for example, by a databasemanagement system (DBMS) to allow a high level of data throughputbetween the data store and other components of a described system. TheDBMS may also allow the data store to be reliably backed up and tomaintain a high level of availability. For example, a data store may beaccessed by other system components via a network, such as a privatenetwork in the vicinity of the system, a secured transmission channelover the public Internet, a combination of private and public networks,and the like. Instead of or in addition to a DBMS, a data store mayinclude structured data stored as files in a traditional file system.Data stores may reside on computing devices that are part of or separatefrom components of systems described herein. Separate data stores may becombined into a single data store, or a single data store may be splitinto two or more separate data stores.

Some of the functionality described herein may be implemented in thecontext of a client-server relationship. In this context, server devicesmay include suitable computing devices configured to provide informationand/or services described herein. Server devices may include anysuitable computing devices, such as dedicated server devices. Serverfunctionality provided by server devices may, in some cases, be providedby software (e.g., virtualized computing instances or applicationobjects) executing on a computing device that is not a dedicated serverdevice. The term “client” can be used to refer to a computing devicethat obtains information and/or accesses services provided by a serverover a communication link. However, the designation of a particulardevice as a client device does not necessarily require the presence of aserver. At various times, a single device may act as a server, a client,or both a server and a client, depending on context and configuration.Actual physical locations of clients and servers are not necessarilyimportant, but the locations can be described as “local” for a clientand “remote” for a server to illustrate a common usage scenario in whicha client is receiving information provided by a server at a remotelocation.

FIG. 13 depicts a block diagram that illustrates aspects of anillustrative computing device 500 appropriate for use in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. The description below isapplicable to servers, personal computers, mobile phones, smart phones,tablet computers, embedded computing devices, and other currentlyavailable or yet to be developed devices that may be used in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

In its most basic configuration, the computing device 500 includes atleast one processor 502 and a system memory 504 connected by acommunication bus 506. Depending on the exact configuration and type ofdevice, the system memory 504 may be volatile or nonvolatile memory,such as read only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), EEPROM,flash memory, or other memory technology. Those of ordinary skill in theart and others will recognize that system memory 504 typically storesdata and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/orcurrently being operated on by the processor 502. In this regard, theprocessor 502 may serve as a computational center of the computingdevice 500 by supporting the execution of instructions.

As further illustrated in FIG. 13, the computing device 500 may includea network interface 510 comprising one or more components forcommunicating with other devices over a network. Embodiments of thepresent disclosure may access basic services that utilize the networkinterface 510 to perform communications using common network protocols.The network interface 510 may also include a wireless network interfaceconfigured to communicate via one or more wireless communicationprotocols, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and/or thelike.

In the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 13, the computing device500 also includes a storage medium 508. However, services may beaccessed using a computing device that does not include means forpersisting data to a local storage medium. Therefore, the storage medium508 depicted in FIG. 13 is optional. In any event, the storage medium508 may be volatile or nonvolatile, removable or nonremovable,implemented using any technology capable of storing information such as,but not limited to, a hard drive, solid state drive, CD ROM, DVD, orother disk storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and/or thelike.

As used herein, the term “computer readable medium” includes volatileand nonvolatile and removable and nonremovable media implemented in anymethod or technology capable of storing information, such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.In this regard, the system memory 504 and storage medium 508 depicted inFIG. 13 are examples of computer readable media.

For ease of illustration and because it is not important for anunderstanding of the claimed subject matter, FIG. 13 does not show someof the typical components of many computing devices. In this regard, thecomputing device 500 may include input devices, such as a keyboard,keypad, mouse, trackball, microphone, video camera, touchpad,touchscreen, electronic pen, stylus, and/or the like. Such input devicesmay be coupled to the computing device 500 by wired or wirelessconnections including RF, infrared, serial, parallel, Bluetooth, USB, orother suitable connection protocols using wireless or physicalconnections.

In any of the described examples, data can be captured by input devicesand transmitted or stored for future processing. The processing mayinclude encoding data streams, which can be subsequently decoded forpresentation by output devices. Media data can be captured by multimediainput devices and stored by saving media data streams as files on acomputer readable storage medium (e.g., in memory or persistent storageon a client device, server, administrator device, or some other device).Input devices can be separate from and communicatively coupled tocomputing device 500 (e.g., a client device), or can be integralcomponents of the computing device 500. In some embodiments, multipleinput devices may be combined into a single, multifunction input device(e.g., a video camera with an integrated microphone). The computingdevice 500 may also include output devices such as a display, speakers,printer, etc. The output devices may include video output devices suchas a display or touchscreen. The output devices also may include audiooutput devices such as external speakers or earphones. The outputdevices can be separate from and communicatively coupled to thecomputing device 500, or can be integral components of the computingdevice 500. Input functionality and output functionality may beintegrated into the same input/output device (e.g., a touchscreen). Anysuitable input device, output device, or combined input/output deviceeither currently known or developed in the future may be used withdescribed systems.

In general, functionality of computing devices described herein may beimplemented in computing logic embodied in hardware or softwareinstructions, which can be written in a programming language, such as C,C++, COBOL, JAVA™, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, HTML, CSS, JavaScript,VBScript, ASPX, Microsoft.NET™ languages such as C#, and/or the like.Computing logic may be compiled into executable programs or written ininterpreted programming languages. Generally, functionality describedherein can be implemented as logic modules that can be duplicated toprovide greater processing capability, merged with other modules, ordivided into sub modules. The computing logic can be stored in any typeof computer readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory medium such as amemory or storage medium) or computer storage device and be stored onand executed by one or more general purpose or special purposeprocessors, thus creating a special purpose computing device configuredto provide functionality described herein.

Many alternatives to the systems and devices described herein arepossible. For example, individual modules or subsystems can be separatedinto additional modules or subsystems or combined into fewer modules orsubsystems. As another example, modules or subsystems can be omitted orsupplemented with other modules or subsystems. As another example,functions that are indicated as being performed by a particular device,module, or subsystem may instead be performed by one or more otherdevices, modules, or subsystems. Although some examples in the presentdisclosure include descriptions of devices comprising specific hardwarecomponents in specific arrangements, techniques and tools describedherein can be modified to accommodate different hardware components,combinations, or arrangements. Further, although some examples in thepresent disclosure include descriptions of specific usage scenarios,techniques and tools described herein can be modified to accommodatedifferent usage scenarios. Functionality that is described as beingimplemented in software can instead be implemented in hardware, or viceversa.

Many alternatives to the techniques described herein are possible. Forexample, processing stages in the various techniques can be separatedinto additional stages or combined into fewer stages. As anotherexample, processing stages in the various techniques can be omitted orsupplemented with other techniques or processing stages. As anotherexample, processing stages that are described as occurring in aparticular order can instead occur in a different order. As anotherexample, processing stages that are described as being performed in aseries of steps may instead be handled in a parallel fashion, withmultiple modules or software processes concurrently handling one or moreof the illustrated processing stages. As another example, processingstages that are indicated as being performed by a particular device ormodule may instead be performed by one or more other devices or modules.

Embodiments disclosed herein include a computer-implemented method forperforming one or more of the above-described techniques; a computingdevice comprising a processor and computer-readable storage media havingstored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause theserver computer to perform one or more of the above-describedtechniques; a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereoncomputer-executable instructions configured to cause a computing deviceto perform one or more of the above-described techniques; a computingsystem comprising a server that provides one or more of theabove-described services. The computer system may further compriseplural client computing devices; and a client computing device incommunication with a server that provides one or more of theabove-described services, the client computing device comprising aprocessing unit and computer-readable storage media having storedthereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause the clientcomputing device to perform one or more of the above-describedtechniques.

The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation ofthe present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description.However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to beprotected are not to be construed as limited to the particularembodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are tobe regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will beappreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, andequivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all suchvariations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

The foregoing description discusses embodiments, which may be changed ormodified without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe claims. Examples listed in parentheses may be used in thealternative or in any practical combination. As used in thespecification and claims, the words ‘comprising’, ‘comprises’,‘including’, ‘includes’, ‘having’, and ‘has’ introduce an open-endedstatement of component structures and/or functions. In the specificationand claims, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ are used as indefinite articlesmeaning ‘one or more’. While for the sake of clarity of description,several specific embodiments of the invention have been described, thescope of the invention is intended to be measured by the claims as setforth below. In the claims, the term “provided” is used to definitivelyidentify an object that not a claimed element of the invention but anobject that performs the function of a workpiece that cooperates withthe claimed invention. For example, in the claim “an apparatus foraiming a provided barrel, the apparatus comprising: a housing, thebarrel positioned in the housing”, the barrel is not a claimed elementof the apparatus, but an object that cooperates with the “housing” ofthe “apparatus” by being positioned in the “housing”. The inventionincludes any practical combination of the structures and methodsdisclosed. While for the sake of clarity of description severalspecifics embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope ofthe invention is intended to be measured by the claims as set forthbelow.

The location indicators “herein”, “hereunder”, “above”, “below”, orother word that refer to a location, whether specific or general, in thespecification shall be construed to refer to any location in thespecification whether the location is before or after the locationindicator.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of communicating among a plurality ofresponders, the method comprising: displaying a geographic area on acomputing device of a first responder, the displayed geographic areaincluding an indication of a location of a computing device of each ofthe plurality of responders; receiving an indication of a geographicboundary within the displayed geographic area, the indication of thegeographic boundary being received after the geographic area includingthe indications of the locations of the computing devices of theplurality of responders has been displayed; defining a subset of theplurality of responders associated with the first responder, wherein thesubset is defined based on the received indication of the geographicboundary; establishing a communication link between the computingdevices of the first responder and the plurality of responders in thesubset; establishing a priority rank among the first responder and theresponders in the subset; and sending communications between thecomputing devices of the first responder and the responders in thesubset via the communication link based on the priority rank.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the communications between the first responderand the responders in the subset comprise push-to-talk audiocommunications.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the computing devicesof the plurality of responders in the subset are configured to determinea conflict between push-to-talk audio communications sent by at leasttwo responders and to play one of the push-to-talk audio communicationsbased on the priority rank of the at least two responders.
 4. The methodof claim 1 wherein the communications between the first responder andthe responders in the subset comprise at least one video clip.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the subset of the plurality of responderscomprises a second responder that is a supervisor of the firstresponder.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the computing device of thefirst responder is configured to send an alert to the second respondervia the communication link in response to an event at the location ofthe first responder.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein defining thesubset of the plurality of responders associated with the firstresponder comprises receiving the indication of the geographic boundaryfrom the computing device of the first responder.
 8. The method of claim7 further comprising: in response to determining that the indication ofthe geographic boundary from the computing device of the first responderincludes a superior of the first responder, the computing device of thefirst responder requesting confirmation to add the superior of the firstresponder to the communication link.
 9. The method of claim 7 whereinthe indication of the geographic boundary comprises an indication ofresponders within the geographic boundary.
 10. The method of claim 7wherein the subset of the plurality of responders is defined based onthe locations of computing devices of the plurality of responders in thesubset and the priority rank of the plurality of responders.
 11. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: receiving, by the computing deviceof the first responder, a message sent from the computing device of asecond responder of the responders in the subset via the communicationlink to the computing devices of the responder and the other respondersin the subset; receiving, by the computing device of the firstresponder, a request to send a response to the second responder; andsending the response via the communication link from the computingdevice of the first responder to the computing device of the secondresponder.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determiningthat the computing device of the first responder is at a particularlocale; in response to determining that the computing device of thefirst responder is at the particular locale, sending an indication ofthe particular locale from the computing device of the first responderto a remote computing device; and receiving, by the computing device ofthe first responder from the remote computing device, information aboutthe particular locale generated by a second responder.
 13. A system forcommunicating among a plurality of responders, the system comprising: acomputing device associated with a first responder; and instructionsstored in the computing device, wherein the instructions, in response toexecution by the computing device, cause the computing device to:display a geographic area on the computing device associated with thefirst reminder, the displayed geographic area including an indication ofa location of a computing device of each of the plurality of responders;receive an indication of a geographic boundary within the displayedgeographic area, the indication of the geographic boundary beingreceived after the geographic area including the indications of thelocations of the computing devices of the plurality of responders hasbeen displayed; define a subset of the plurality of responders, whereinthe subset of the plurality of responders is defined based on thereceived indication of the geographic boundary; establish acommunication link between the computing devices of the first responderand the plurality of responders in the subset, and send communicationsto the computing devices of the responders in the subset based on apriority rank among the first responder and the responders in thesubset.
 14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium havinginstructions thereon for communicating among a plurality of responders,wherein the instructions, in response to execution by a computing deviceof a first responder, cause the computing device to: display ageographic area on the computing device of the first responder, thedisplayed geographic area including an indication of a location of acomputing device of each of the plurality of responders; receive anindication of a geographic boundary within the displayed geographicarea, the indication of the geographic boundary being received after thegeographic area including the indications of the locations of thecomputing devices of the plurality of responders has been displayed onthe computing device of the first responder; define a subset of theplurality of responders, wherein the subset of the plurality ofresponders is defined at the computing device of the first responderbased on the received indication of the geographic boundary; establish acommunication link between the computing devices of the first responderand the plurality of responders in the subset; and send communicationsto the computing devices of the responders in the subset based on apriority rank among the first responder and the responders in thesubset.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the geographic boundaryincludes a location at which the computing device of the first responderis located.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication of thegeographic boundary is received via a same display of the computingdevice of the first responder on which the geographic area including theindications of the locations of the computing devices of the pluralityof responders is displayed.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thedisplay is a touchscreen display.
 18. The method of claim 16, whereinthe indications of the locations of the computing devices of theplurality of responders are displayed on a map of the geographic areaand the geographic boundary is received as first responder input drawnover the map of the geographic area.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinthe displayed geographic area includes an indication of a location of acomputing device of a responder in the plurality of responders that isnot included in the subset based on the received indication of thegeographic boundary.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the subsetincludes multiple responders of the plurality of responders, themultiple responders commonly selected based on the received indicationof the geographic boundary.